Friday, May 28, 2010

Fandom Fought Friday

1. Yikes - it's been over two weeks since my last blog post. Hopefully ya'll will give me some credit though since I've been keeping up with posting the worst and best part of the day feature. Which is as popular as RTT. Which is your favorite?

2. Update on tv watching... the Polack and I are nearly finished with season 1 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. My favorite episode is when they get hooked on crack so they can qualify for disabilty. We're also watching season 4 of Dexter. Always a great show though I think my decreased attention span gets impatient with how slow the story line can be. We're also watching season 1 of True Blood. We're only a few episodes in to it and I'm still getting used the style of the show as well as how much they deviate from the characters in the book series. I don't like Tara's character but the awesomeness of Anna Paquin as Sookie makes up for everything. And Frank Sobotka is Andy Bellefluer. Score!

3. The Polack can't stand Anna Paquin. He's especially bothered by her teeth.

4. I signed up for my first research study at IU. There is a campus wide walking program starting June 1 and I'm in a group that is testing whether a web based walking program increases activity. I have to wear a wireless pedometer on my shoe for the next 12 weeks. Payment for this study? A whopping $10.

5. Tonight is poker night. Woo hoo!!

6. It's been a very tough parenting week. I definitely have more grey hair.

7. So we still haven't had any luck with selling our house. The Polack and I have made the decision to find someplace to rent in Bloomington for the next 6-12 months because A) we are sick of being apart and B) we want to be settled in to the community before school starts in mid-August. So next week, we're are going apartment hunting. We thought about trying to rent a house but the idea of a complex with a pool, fitness center, playground, etc. is pretty appealing.

8. I have two concerns about living in an apartment complex. 1) Living by crazy people. (Of course I know not everyone who lives in a complex is crazy BUT I think crazy people become crazier when they are in such close proximity to others. 2) Where in the heck am I going to put all my sewing stuff?

9. I'm so behind at work right now. My email inbox is pretty manageable but all the red tasks on my sidebar are freaking me out.

10. I saw Sex in the City 2 last night. Very light, very funny, very full of plastic surgery and botox. I've got nothing against either but sometimes - many times - people just seem to take it too far.

Friday, May 14, 2010

When I Grow Up...

While putting the boys to bed tonight, I asked what they wanted to be when they grow up. Nicklas's top five are, in order:
1. Author
2. Space Man/Astronaut
3. Athlete
4. In the Air Force
5. Sports Broadcaster

Seeger said he has lots he wants to do but he could only remember three, in no order:
1. Cop
2. Engineer - one who drives trains
3. Santa's elf

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Random Thought Thursday

Whew - I have one hour to spare in getting this posted so it officially qualifies as RTT.

1. I've been doing WAAA-AAAYY too much driving lately. Here is my schedule from the past seven days. Thursday - drive from Spencer to Bloomington to Lafayette; Friday - drive from Lafayette to Bloomington to Spencer; Saturday - drive from Spencer to Bloomington to Lafayette; Sunday - drive from Lafayette to Fort Wayne to Lafayette; Monday - drive from Lafayette to Bloomington to Spencer; Tuesday - drive from Spencer to Bloomington to Lafayette; Wednesday - drive from Lafayette to Bloomington to Spencer; today - drive from Spencer to Bloomington to Lafayette.

See what I mean? That's 1200 miles, people. In one week!

2. Since I was in Lafayette on Tuesday, I got to spend some nice quality time with the family. Nicklas had his performance and afterward, we went out for ice cream. Our trip from the school to Dairy Queen consisted of Seeger asking me to play his favorite songs - If You Seek Amy, Party in the USA, and Fireflies. After those, I played Save Ferris which got everyone in the car rocking. It was a nice way to top off the evening.

3. In watching Nick's performance, I got to see all the other kids in his class too. Man, I miss those kids. They've been together since first grade and I used to volunteer in his classroom weekly so I've really gotten to know them. It's sad to think that Nicklas won't be with the same group of kids next year. I think it will be as hard on me as it is on him.

4. No one in my office knows the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. We had a watch going on today and they were all stressing out. I was all, "it's a watch not a warning, chill out!" But since they didn't know the difference, I half verbalized, half acted out the difference. It was a little embarrassing.

5. The Polack got a job. Yay! This is great news. I should feel relief. But really, I'm just a stressed as ever because we still need to sell our house. It's sad to be selling a house that we love so dearly and not have anyone else who agrees enough to make an offer. *sigh*

6. I had THE BEST piece of dessert EVER this week. Someone in our building made oreo truffles and they were truly the best thing I've ever eaten. I don't know who made them for our office but I intend to find out and become her best friend so that she will share the recipe with me. (I'm very serious when I say they were the best thing ever - even better than the chocolat glacee that I had in Nice, France when I was 17-years-old.)

7. Tonight, my friend Christy and I went to the movie theater to watch a special showing from Drum Corps International. DCI is gearing up for the season so they showed the top five performances from last year. It was so awesome to see on the big screen and totally made me miss my high school marching band days when I was in color guard. I think it's about time to get out my sabre and practice my tosses. I was captain of the sabre line you know and I think I've still got it.

7B. The one regret from my childhood is that I never tried out for a Drum and Bugle Corps. It would have been a great experience to participate in something like that.

8. I've started a new quilt and I'm actually excited about it. I haven't felt very quilty lately but this new project has me invigorated. I think I've found my quilting mojo.

9. Last Sunday, my brothers and I surprised my mom by all meeting up at the Fort Wayne Tin Caps baseball game. It was hilarious to watch her try to find her seat and see us sitting in her seat but not realizing the seat stealers were her family members. She was about to get crappy with us but figured it out.

9B. During the game, our row was picked as the lucky lottery row and we all got free lottery tickets. Score! One of my brothers won $2. My mom won $32. The Polack and I haven't scratched all of our tickets yet but so far, we're up to $2. I'll keep you posted!

10. Time to hit the hay - the carpet cleaners are coming tomorrow and I've got lots to do!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Army Ants

Although I feel like I'm finally starting to catch up on my blogging, I'm still way behind. Especially in recent weeks, since I have a new camera and I've been taking lots of pictures. I still need to post about prom and Mia's work with Invisible Children and baseball and soccer and other things. But this post is actually a follow up from yesterday.

The third grade classes in Nicklas's school put on a performance called BUGZ. This wasn't a typical activity for the third grade but their music teacher, Mrs. Miller, is impressed with the talent and ambition of the third grade classes and decided to organize something to showcase their talent. And the kids did a fabulous job. It was very entertaining and everyone had a speaking or singing part. The parents, grandparents, and siblings all enjoyed the show.

Here is a photo of Nicklas with his friend Hayden, plus a video that Mia filmed of Nicklas. He was THE BEST army ant, ifIdosaysomyself. :)





There are a lot of things going on with Nicklas and his educational future right now. Things I will share soon but don't have the energy to do it right now. But in the meantime, I'm posting this because I'm so proud of him. He's an awesome kid and I'm lucky to be his mom.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Random Thought Thursday

1. Have you noticed my increased blog posts? Yay me! We'll pretend it's because I'm more organized in my life right now and not due to my procrastination with needing to finish up some projects at work.

2. Did I mention that I have to read the names of the students gradating from the School I work for? Yuck, yuck, yuck. I had the same job for the scholarship honors dinner a few weeks ago but attendance at that event was only 250 people versus the graduation luncheon which is nearly 1000 people. I'm going to be shaking in my high heels.

3. I'm really starting to get into listening to audio books. Since I'm commuting up to 10 hours per week, I needed a new distraction. I finished Pride and Prejudice last week and now I'm on Jane Eyre. The readers of both speak in British accents and there have been a few mornings when I've walked into the office after listening in my car and almost starting speaking British. Luckily, I've caught myself. I'd never live that one down.

4. I finished the Sookie Stackhouse books and now have the first season of True Blood to watch. Can't wait!

5. And since I need a new book to read, I've borrowed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies plus Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. Holla!

6. I'm planning to make a photo book for Mia with pictures of her time in the US. But considering she's untagged herself in 75% of the photos I've posted of her on Facebook, now I'm not so sure I should make the book. She untags herself when she doesn't like the picture. So should I scrap the idea or make the book anyway?

7. The Polack has an interview tomorrow at a high school close to Bloomington. Be thinking positive thoughts for him!

8. I had to forge a bunch of signatures on letters at work today and I commented to my co-workers that I wish I had Veronica's forgery skills. And yet again, my Heather reference was lost on everyone. No one has ever watched the movie.

9. Rereading that old post made me wonder if I should do another giveaway. It's about time, I think.

10. My office trash only gets emptied once a week and I always forget this which means when I eat lunch and throw away the remains, it stinks up my office until I can't stand it and have to empty the trash myself. You'd think I'd actually learn to toss out my food in the common area where trash is emptied every night.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Office visitor



Uncle Bill visited me at work yesterday. Actually we went to lunch and the I convinced him to stop in and see my office. All my co-workers wanted to meet him and I thought it would be best for them to have an accurate picture of him in their minds. Given his occupation and log cabin home, they all envisioned a lumberjack, Paul Bunyanish character. They were quite impressed and commented on how good looking he is. I haven't passed on the compliments yet - I'm sure he'll be embarrassed!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Back Blogged - Spring Break

Because of my new job and therefore lack of vacation time, the Kubatski family wasn't able to plan a long spring break. Instead, I took two days off work and we made our way to French Lick, Indiana where we spent a few days with some friends at an indoor water park. Mia didn't join us for this part of the week but we did have a lot of fun. The boys LOVED the water slides and we even spent some time exploring French Lick. No, we didn't make it to the casino but there is always next time. Enjoy the photos and check out the video of Nicklas!

Back Blogged - Pinewood Derby

If you'll recall, last year's Pinewood Derby didn't go very well for Nicklas. I'm pleased to say he did much better this year and won several heats. He was excited about his victories and I think he and the Polack (and the vocational arts teacher at the high school) enjoyed working on the Derby car together.









I love the guitar shaped car!



Way to go Nicklas!